Mary Sarah Magurn (1905-2009) - Longevity

Mary Sarah Magurn, or Sister Margaret as she was known later in life, lived to be almost 104 years old. On her 100th birthday in 2005, one of the sisters in her order, wrote this poem about her long life.

History in a Nutshell

In 1905 wee Mamie saw life
Her father was Irish, a good Scot was his wife. So Mamie has traits of the Scots and the Gaels Outspoken, no nonsense, 
"You keep on the rails!"

After seven years in Scotland and seven oversea
Came Garnethill Convent and the Sisters of Mercy.

A diligent pupil who ne'er broke the rule 

Got the "Archbishop's Cross' from the pupils at school. 

Then came Glasgow Uni when for her degree 

She passed all seven subjects. I think you'll agree 

That to pass French and English and Maths and Maths Higher 

With Nat. Phil., Education and Logic - some flier! 

At Notre Dame College to learn teaching skills 

She climbed from the Subway up west Glasgow's hill. 

She used all the talents that God had bestowed 

And so, capped and gowned, she was on the high road. 

First came Mr. Quigley and her Infant class there, 

Then Garnethill Secondary and the good Sisters, where 

They saw in their teacher a vocation for sure 

But Cluny's call came, one that long would endure. 

At 28 years, mature and alight 

With an ardent desire to do what was right

She went to Ferbane. It must have been hard,

Later in Paris gave her life to the Lord. 

What next? - The Missions on West Africa's shore 

Where she worked for two years in the schools there before, 

That mandate was over. She sailed home again 

To be 'mistress' in Girvan, in Scotland's terrain. 

For 38 years she taught Maths and R.E., 

The bright and the lazy, the tall and the wee. 

She coached Gemma for New Maths and better than that 

She groomed Sr. Morag for her special hat! 

3rd from left - Trochrague Guest Home (from newspaper)

Having given her all to our house by the sea 

Sr. Margaret left Girvan and Trochrague was to be 

Her home and her ministry for the next thirteen years 

Where bed-making, dish-washing, for her had no fears.

Trochrague had its day. 'Twas time to move on. 

Sr. Margaret was ready and soon she had gone 

To our house in Stranraer where for 13 years more 

She did just about everything that arrived at her door. 

There was church, work and laundry and Newsletter too, 

And greeting parishioners and making a brew 

When Sisters from Glasgow and Girvan and Ayr 

Drove down for a visit - all greeted with care.

But sadly, yes sadly, Stranraer was no more

And Margaret moved house again. Ayr opened its door. 

The distance from Church and the frailty of age 

Made life back in Ayrshire a difficult stage. 

So one last expedition and a big one at that,
 From Scotland to England. Not an eye did she bat 
When last August, by now nearly one hundred years 
Sr. Margaret arrived here - no fuss and no tears. 

This is the story of Sr. Margaret Magurn.
We're so pleased to have her and hope her sojourn 
 Will see her enjoying more birthdays too.
But this one is special for her and for you. 
She's our first centenarian, the very first one   
And with all of you here to join in the fun
The Queen sent her greeting, 
the Queen bless her heart,
While the Mayor called in person, doing his part.

   So Margaret we share with you all of this day, 
The love and the prayers and the greetings, that say
You're a gallant wee soul and it's time for a tot 
To drink to the health of our hundred year Scot. 

This song was sung to her as well.Tune: The Mountains of Mourne

O Surely, Sr. Margaret, it's a wonderful day

O Surely, Sr. Margaret, it's a wonderful day 

For you've reached one hundred and still have your say

 With praying and writing you fill in your time

None of it wasted, just like in your prime, 

Each of us named to Our Father you pray  

Reminding Him of us, in your own special way

And so dear Sr. Margaret, happy birthday to you

From Paris and Ireland and dear Scotland too.

You get up so early though we don't think you should

And won't take siestas though you easily could, 

But you never did that in the last hundred years  

So it's not very likely you'll be changing your gears!

You've adapted to Stafford so amazingly well 

You'd think you were born here but your accent will tell

That Scotland still claims you as one of its best  

Though your 'youth' brought you down here, to our cozy next.

 By Sr. Mary O'D.

1997 Diamond Jubilee with 1/2 sisters Terry & Joan 

A Reminiscence by her half-sister, Terry 

She had many talents and she used them all. She did beautiful needlepoint, her handwriting was as perfect as ever right up to last year when I last heard from her. She excelled in calligraphy, in knitting and daily crossword puzzles. Her favourite pastime was watching her beloved football (soccer to you Yanks!) team - Glasgow Celtic, the green and whites. When they lost she was very unhappy. On her Golden Jubilee the whole team called on her and sent her mementoes and she was thrilled. I remember as a young child traveling up to Glasgow and staying with the O'Neills while my dad and the male family members went to watch Celtic and their chief rival Rangers play on New Year's Day. I think they still play.

 February 2009